Decisions, Decisions...

mikemansker · February 23, 2017

I'm planting 14 varieties of tomatoes, but only have room for 12. Two have to go into 5 gallon buckets. Which 2 do you suggest?

Bush Big Boy
Sungold
Stupice
Big Beef
Cherokee Purple
Early Girl
Orange Russian
San Marzano
Mortgage Lifter
Mozark
Celebrity
Kellogg's Breakfast
Daniel Burson
George Detsikas

Thanks!

MissS · February 23, 2017

I would put Stupice and San Marzano in the buckets. San Marzano is a semi-determinate so will not be getting all that big. Stupice is one that is great in the beginning and then goes by the wayside because all of the better tasting ones are coming along.

AlittleSalt · February 23, 2017

Bush Big Boy because it grows compact plants that are only half the size of Big Boy. Maybe San Marzano too.

mikemansker · February 23, 2017

Thanks for the input!

Gardeneer · February 23, 2017

Isn't Celebrity a determinate ? If so it can be a candidate for container planting.

b54red · February 23, 2017

Celebrity seems bigger than any determinate I have ever grown. I would say it is a semi-determinate but I am no expert on that kind of thing. I did grow it for about 7 years and it got quite large.

Bill

February 23, 2017

Early Girl F1 can be prolific in containers, I've read. That would be one I would suggest. It does well in the ground, too, though.

creister · February 23, 2017

I was thinking Bush Big Boy, and Stupice or Early Girl as they have smaller fruit. I have grown several large fruited varieties with success in buckets. Just need more frequent water and fertilizer.

I always drill several large holes in the bottom of the bucket. Roots grow into native soil, so in essence a one plant raised bed.

ddsack · February 24, 2017

Stupice for sure, then either the Bush Big Boy or Early Girl.

ABlindHog · February 24, 2017

The ones that jump out are Bush Big Boy (a dwarf) and Mozark (a determinate). They would be my choice for container growing from your list.

cloz · February 24, 2017

Stupice did very well in a container for me.

Cloz

February 23, 2017	#1
mikemansker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Branson MO Posts: 441	Decisions, Decisions... I'm planting 14 varieties of tomatoes, but only have room for 12. Two have to go into 5 gallon buckets. Which 2 do you suggest? Bush Big Boy Sungold Stupice Big Beef Cherokee Purple Early Girl Orange Russian San Marzano Mortgage Lifter Mozark Celebrity Kellogg's Breakfast Daniel Burson George Detsikas Thanks!

February 23, 2017	#2
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	I would put Stupice and San Marzano in the buckets. San Marzano is a semi-determinate so will not be getting all that big. Stupice is one that is great in the beginning and then goes by the wayside because all of the better tasting ones are coming along. __________________ ~ Patti ~

February 23, 2017	#5
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Isn't Celebrity a determinate ? If so it can be a candidate for container planting. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

February 23, 2017	#7
shule1 Guest Posts: n/a	Early Girl F1 can be prolific in containers, I've read. That would be one I would suggest. It does well in the ground, too, though. Last edited by shule1; February 23, 2017 at 10:00 PM.

February 24, 2017	#9
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	Stupice for sure, then either the Bush Big Boy or Early Girl. __________________ Dee **************

February 23, 2017	#3
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Bush Big Boy because it grows compact plants that are only half the size of Big Boy. Maybe San Marzano too.

February 23, 2017	#6
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Celebrity seems bigger than any determinate I have ever grown. I would say it is a semi-determinate but I am no expert on that kind of thing. I did grow it for about 7 years and it got quite large. Bill

February 23, 2017	#8
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	I was thinking Bush Big Boy, and Stupice or Early Girl as they have smaller fruit. I have grown several large fruited varieties with success in buckets. Just need more frequent water and fertilizer. I always drill several large holes in the bottom of the bucket. Roots grow into native soil, so in essence a one plant raised bed.

February 24, 2017	#10
ABlindHog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: The Texas Hill Country Posts: 149	The ones that jump out are Bush Big Boy (a dwarf) and Mozark (a determinate). They would be my choice for container growing from your list.

February 24, 2017	#11
cloz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 435	Stupice did very well in a container for me. Cloz